What's Happening in My Area?

The Laurel Highlands Councils operates a variety of camping facilities and programs for youth and their families throughout 15 districts in the Western Pennsylvania, Maryland and West Virginia regions.

Experience the Outdoors

Organized camping is a creative, educational experience in cooperative group living in the outdoors. It uses the natural surroundings to contribute significantly to physical, mental, spiritual, and social growth.

Parent Resources

About Us

Parent Resources

For over 100 years, Scouting programs have instilled in youth the values found in the Scout Oath and Scout Law. Today, these values are just as relevant in helping youth grow to their full potential as they were in 1910. Scouting helps youth develop academic skills, self-confidence, ethics, leadership skills, and citizenship skills that influence their adult lives.

The Boy Scouts of America provides youth with programs and activities that allow them to

Try new things.

Provide service to others.

Build self-confidence.

Reinforce ethical standards.

While various activities and youth groups teach basic skills, and promote teamwork, Scouting goes beyond that and encourages youth to achieve a deeper appreciation for service to others in their community.

Scouting provides youth with a sense that they are important as individuals. It is communicated to them that those in the Scouting family care about what happens to them, regardless of whether a game is won or lost.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, Scouting promotes activities that lead to personal responsibility and high self-esteem. As a result, when hard decisions have to be made, peer pressure can be resisted and the right choices can be made.

NEW PARENT

Thank you!

Thank you for your willingness to try out our great organization and all the fantastic benefits it has to offer your child as he grows. Scouting is about character development and having confidence to Be Prepared! The Boy Scouts of America (BSA) is the largest youth organization in the U.S. with nearly 3 million youth members and 1.1 million registered adult leaders. Our program is a family program, one that we hope will become part of your family. Our goal is that you will come to enjoy Scouting just as much as your child. This page is designed to help you become familiar with Scouting and answer any questions you may have.

WHAT TO EXPECT

When you join the Boy Scouts of America, Scouting is like an extension of your family: It follows your values, it sees to the overall care and well-being of your child, and it’s always there for you. It’s not an either/or choice you have to make for your child. It works with you to let you manage your time and other activities and will always be there when you return.

Maturity

Youth experience dramatic physical and emotional growth. Scouting offers them opportunities to channel much of that change into productive endeavors. Through service projects and Good Turns, Scouts can discover their place in the community. Many Scouting activities allow youth to associate with others from different backgrounds. The religious emblems program offers pathways for Scouts to more deeply understand their duty to God. The unit provides each Scout with an opportunity to explore, to try out new ideas, and to embark on adventures that sometimes have no design other than to have a good time with good people.

Flexibility

The Scouting programs are flexible and accommodate the need to balance the work and life requirements of a busy family. It’s easy to plan for meetings and activities, and if something unexpected comes up, just let your leader know—it’s expected in the lives we live today.

Adaptability

Your child can work on achievements at his or her own pace. For example, if your child is in a spring soccer league and has to miss several meetings and activities, he or she still can complete and sign off on Scout activities to work toward the next level.

Transferability

The skills and values your child learns through Scouting can be applied in any non-Scouting activity he or she participates in. As your child builds character, this can be an especially valuable defense to the peer pressure all youth experience when growing up.

BOY SCOUT PARENT ORIENTATION

The world of Boy Scouting is completely different than that of Cub Scouting. Boys now begin to take more responsibility to learn the leadership roles within the Troop. Words like; Patrol Method and acronyms like; SPL, ASM and PLC are part of the vocabulary that is being used. Parents show up to the Troop meetings but what specifically is their job?

Click Here to the learn all about Scouting and the role you play in your son’s experience.

UNIFORM

When you see someone in a uniform you know they belong to a specific group. A policeman wears a uniform and so does a Doctor and a fireman. As a Cub Scout you wear a uniform too. The uniform is a reminder of the member’s commitment to character development, citizenship training, and personal fitness. Awards displayed on the uniform mark the progress of every Scout and leader in achieving these goals and successfully practicing Scouting’s ideals. Click here for an interactive guide to learn about each uniform and how to officially wear it.

HOW TO VOLUNTEER

Parents can join Scouting too! Be a volunteer.

Volunteer! Have you ever wondered how to get engaged in Scouting to help local youth?

There are many ways you can make a difference with minimal time. Volunteer opportunities in all programs exist such as; mentoring an Eagle Scout, volunteering to help with popcorn sales, becoming a camp steward or a merit badge counselor. We are always interested in working with people who have the heart for Scouting and are willing to offer their time and talent to help.